From: Farmer’s Weekly
Philip Case
Comprehensive field studies carried out by Syngenta have found no evidence linking neonicotinoid seed treatments to poor bee health.
Restrictions on the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides on bee-attractive crops, including Syngenta’s thiamethoxam (Cruiser), will come into force across the EU from 1 December.
The European Commission pushed through a two-year ban on neonicotinoids despite a split among EU countries.
The action was in response to the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific opinion that these insecticides posed an unacceptable risk to bees.
November 18, 2013
Editor’s Note: The article below describes the actions underway by a leading US corporation to preserve a viable national stock of bees. Until which time the products of this major commitment to research and development are available it is imperative that regulators not act prematurely.
A preponderance of evidence demonstrates that the varroa mite is the major destructor of bees and we encourage regulators to take the appropriate action. CRE is concerned however that a number of advocates are recommending regulatory action be initiated as a result of the chemical treatment of seeds, “seed treatment”. Consequently CRE will be examining seed treatment in considerable detail.
November 16, 2013
Editor’s Note: The attention being given to seed treatment as a major cause of bee health decline will be addressed in CRE’s forthcoming submission to Health Canada.
My Way of Thinking: Seed treatments overblamed for bee deaths
Richard Keller, Editor, Ag Professional
It is hard to ignore consumer media reporting on the activist organizations’ claims that pesticides are killing all the bees in the U.S. and world. The overzealous reporting makes it sound like all the crops grown for food are dependent on bees to be pollinated, which is far from the truth. The 90 percent of consumers that have no idea about farming and crop production are easily coerced into believing most anything.
November 16, 2013
From: Food Chemical News
The Canadian industry association, CropLife Canada, has urged the government to broaden its examination of the challenges affecting bee populations beyond neonicotinoid insecticides. Despite widespread international agreement that bee health is impacted by a combination of factors, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) continues to focus exclusively on the role of neonicotinoids in one specific Canadian region, the industry body points out, Agrow reports.
November 15, 2013
Editor’s Note: The “Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship” prepared by Agcarm, a New Zealand-based “industry association for companies which manufacture, distribute and sell products that keep animals healthy and crops thriving” is attached here.
From: New Zealand Radio
The seed and agri-chemical industries have launched a new safety guide for handling and using chemically treated seeds.
Seeds are treated to protect them from diseases and insect pests and reduce the need for spraying crops after they are sown.
Some of the treatments, such as insecticides, are a threat to bees, especially if dust is released during planting.
November 13, 2013
From: The Grower
Vicky Boyd
BASF Corp. has filed a legal challenge against the European Union Commission that restricted seed treatments containing fipronil.
The commission took the action to help protect bees.
But BASF officials contend that the bee decline is caused by multiple factors and that fipronil use is not one of those, according to a news release.
The Limburgerhof, Germany-based chemical manufacturer has said the EU Commission did not consider all of the scientific evidence available when making its decision.
As a result, it violated EU pesticide legislation.
November 11, 2013
From: The Telegraph
Honey bees have declined by 40pc causing a reduction in almond production in California with almond growers forced to pay thousands for pollination
By Radhika Sanghani
A shortage of honey bees is threatening almond growers in the US who need the bees to pollinate their orchards.
Honey bees are declining in health and their population has fallen by 30 to 40pc, which will lead to a 800,000 tonnes drop in US production this year, according to researchers Mintec.
The bee shortage has forced California almond growers to rent out hives for pollination with prices trebling to $150 a hive in California, which accounts for 80 per cent of the world’s crop.
November 8, 2013
From: Weekly Times Now
Alex Sampson
THE almond industry is at the forefront of recognising the importance of paid pollination and pest awareness, experts say.
Growers at the Australian Almonds Conference in Adelaide last week were given an update on what has been done with the money they invested in the Pollination Program, a joint research effort managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Horticulture Australia.
Pollination Research and Development Advisory Committee chairman Gerald Martin told growers they were to be congratulated for heeding warnings about pests such as varroa mite.
November 6, 2013
From: Agricultural Retailers Association
Last week, ARA joined a coalition of agricultural organizations in a letter to EPA and USDA urging the agencies fulfill a request from the American Honey Producers Association asking USDA-ARS to host a Varroa Mite Summit.
The Oct. 23 letter stated, “While it is understood that USDA is charged with the responsibility of bee health research, it is also recognized that EPA is charged with review and registration of pesticides. Few products are registered for control of varroa mite in bee hives. The chemical control of the varroa mite has limited success due partly to the development of varroa populations resistant to the registered products.”
November 1, 2013
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